Yelp reviews did not disappoint. Authentic Ethiopian food in MN. Must try.
(5)
Michael H.
Terrific! Full of flavor, friendly service, and fairly priced.
(5)
Diana M.
Yum! Checking "Eat Ethiopian Food" off our list on our trip to MN was important! Dillas did an awesome job. When you walk in the door you're not sure what to do... some folks at the bar sort of stood around and I wasn't sure if they were guests or employees. it's a small place and would be tough for a crowd of 6+ if you didn't plan on using the whole restaurant. You walk downstairs to the creepy bathroom, but all these are overcome by the deliciousness of the food. I was nervous about introducing two of our friends to ethiopian but Dilla's held their own. The waitress was very sweet and helped me pick out a platter that would be big enough. We basically ordered the vegetarian platter and the combination platter. I also tried the Ethiopian coffee for the heck of it - some extremely strong espresso in a tiny adorable coffee pot with some frothy cream. I had to add a heck of some sugar to it to match my taste but it was a cool little extra. All the dishes on the platter were great. I won't pretend to be able to identify them all but the lentils are delicious, they include the traditional salad and cheese too; the doro wot was good, and the red lentils = VERY spicy! There was also something like beets, I think, that I hadn't seen at other E places, and it was actually extremely good! The two platters was TOO much for 5 people and at about $12/person it wasn't too bad. We could easily have fed 6 or even 7 with the same food. I would go back if I'm ever in the area!
(4)
Holley V.
There are a few good places in town to eat Ethiopian, but Dilla's in the best. I usually get the Awaze Tibs and tea. The inera bread that comes with is great! Sometimes, my husband orders the Kifto and we get an appetizer of sambusa to eat with the tasty sauce! Parking can be crazy, and I wish they had more spaces in the lot next door. The other thing is that sometimes there is only one or two servers for the whole restaurant. The foods so good that I temporarily become a patient person.
(5)
Eva D.
Fresh, delicious and authentic food. We tried the beef sambusas and the vegetarian combo plate. Both were excellent! As others have noted, service can be slow so go when you are not in a big hurry.
(4)
Howie K.
We'll go a long, long way out of our way to dine on Ethiopian. We flew all the way from Albuquerque to Minneapolis to chow down on these eats, and let me tell ya, it was every second of the flight. We also happened into a relative's wedding while we were in the Cities. Strange coincidence. Again, I state with emphatic determination, ABQ needs Ethiopian. Even the sort of average eats, like those we had at Dilla's, are such a unique change of culinary pace and so fun to eat. Dilla's doesn't offer any fluff, no flare, just home cooked recipes and (during our visit) really friendly service. The injera was very cold, which kinda flattened the warm toppings available from the buffet, but no matter. Our bellies were full, our toddler was coddled, good times. Hey Dilla's, I know of a place where the summers are hot and the winters are basically snow-free. Wanna set up shop in New Mexico?
(3)
Elizabeth D.
Best Ethiopian in town. Blue Nile was my fav, but the flavors and quality are better here. My husband and I shared the veggie platter and both left very full. So tasty!!!
(5)
Kalkidan A.
Best Ethiopian restaurant in the Cities! You won't regret it ... Please go and test the delicious variety of foods!
(5)
Henok T.
I like this place - the service leaves more to be desired; as does the decor but the food delivers! I needed it as my first meal after moving to Minneapolis and I considered it fate since this place was the closest restaurant to my hotel :)
(4)
Mohamed I.
Excellent food. My wife craves the zigni with boiled eggs. Food takes a lil time but it's so tasty. I've already came this place twice. I also tried their burger combo. Tasty fries and burgers . I would recommend this place to anyone .
(5)
Ellen C.
Just wanted to quickly update the price of the combination has gone up to $13.
(5)
Omnivore E.
Delicious, authentic and great service. The negative was that the meat variety was three kinds of meat in the same sauce. The veg assortment made up for it though. I was ready to be disappointed due to previous low flavor, low seasoning experiences at ethnic restaurants catering to MN natives. This place was a welcome surprise.
(4)
Ahmed A.
The food was good but the customer service was terrible. You better not go there hungry because it will take them forever to bring your food out. They only have two super slow waitresses that takes care of taking orders, cleaning and cashing you our.
(2)
Sam H.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious and authentic and the prices are reasonable. For years, I thought Fasika had the best Ethiopian food in town but now Dilla`s is my favorite. I highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Jordan M.
Have eaten here a number of times, and enjoyed everything. The food is delicious, and it is a really good price. Parking can kind of suck depending on the day you go there, but it hasn't been too much of a problem. I particularly like the eatery because my wife is a vegetarian, and being a meat-eater, it's hard to find a place we can both agree on. Dilla's has really good options for the both of us.
(5)
Andy L.
Rica and I got delivery 25 minutes ago. We got a vegetarian sampler and Doro Tibs, which is a spicy chicken dish. We liked the vegetables a lot. The chicken had nice flavor, but was slightly dry in parts. We ate very fast and got happy.
(5)
Anthony S.
I've been coming to Dillas for 3-4 years now, I can't imagine a better tasting restaurant with kind and consistent service. All of my meals are satisfying, I walk away full, and with left overs! They have recently upgraded their decor with brand new tables and chairs! I highly recommend Dillas to anyone looking for a chill atmosphere and tasty Ethiopian cuisine.
(5)
Tony J.
The people were friendly enough, but the service wasn't great. Most importantly of all, we did not enjoy our food. The roll that they served had the consistency and sponginess of a baby's arm... and not in a good way! Ate here once and Would definitely not dine here again...
(1)
Dmitriy K.
Worst service ever. Took 30 min to get a bean dip appetizer, and then ordered the 5 combo meal which made me sick most of the night. Not good.
(1)
Jessica S.
Situated just steps away from the UMN West Bank Campus, yet not overrun by the student population, is this little Ethiopian joint that offers a Thurs / Sun buffet for a mere $10 per head. Yesterday, I finally got the chance to pig out during the Thurs buffet... Plenty of variety, with about 6 veggie-friendly dishes including my favorite - a spicy brown lentil stew. Other notable mentions included the warm red beets, the spiced collard greens, and some flash fried green beans and carrots. Thick rolls of deliciously fresh injera (spongy sourdough-flavored bread designed to be used in lieu of utensils) accompanied. Everything was so good and satisfactory in quality, though the pools of oil tipped me off that I might not be consuming diet-aligned food. Note: I'm hypersensitive to oily food and this was not anywhere near nasty enough to irritate my stomach. Dilla's has a far-away Sub-Saharan vibe to it, yet seems to be a local gathering place for expats. It's beautified by colorfully-patterned mesob baskets, bright and bold paintings of native folks captured performing the mundane (i.e. hair weaving), and a traditional bunna coffee set. We were seated in a cozy side room with ample natural lighting. In the main dining / buffet areas, a rather intimate space, was situated a bar. At the time (just prior to 3 p.m.), it was occupied by several men engaged in foreign yet clearly jovial conversation with, whom I can only assume was, the matronly owner of the joint. Warm and proud, the woman inquired how we enjoyed our meal. I assured her it was delicious and that we'd be returning back soon.
(5)
Charlie B.
Being a vegetarian there are plenty of great selections...great tasting food...everytime I am near the west bank this is my first choice...I love this restaurant...friendly service!!!
(5)
Gutama H.
It's one of the best place you want to be if you are around Twin Cities. Their service,quality and best food East African food!! Please visit and im guaranteed you will enjoy the time you spent there. I have been there many times I never disappointed their service and quality of their food!!
(5)
Rachel F.
good veg options
(4)
Jen Z.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've had in years.
(5)
Dee C.
The food is definitely five-star, but the service is VERY SLOW. I'm thinking it may be cultural dissonance. Americans tend to want to order and eat on their lunch hour, not a two hour lunch. I've even tried ordering to go and/or calling in the order to have it ready when I arrive. It's never ready and always "almost ready" (meaning another 15 to 20 minutes). They are usually very nice but they do appear to be nicer to the men. Again it may be a cultural thing because I've seen lots of waitresses be nicer to men (probably for better tips) so not sure. I've had waiters be more "flirty" when I'm with all females so it goes both ways.
(3)
Nana P.
$9.99 wonderful Thursday buffet. We were planning to go to Hard Times Cafe when we saw that they only took cash, so in a moment of spontaneity we decided to walk around and find another restaurant. It was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant and the buffet was a perfect way to sample a variety of delicious dishes. Most of the dishes were also vegetarian. Staff was also extremely friendly and helpful in pointing out vegetarian dishes, as well as keeping the buffet fully stocked. Very satisfied and will be back again !!
(5)
Paola M.
It is a family restaurant, meaning I felt like I was at the owners' house instead of at a restaurant. And I loved it. The menu is rather long and it has plenty of options, including a large vegetarian selection. The items are traditional Somali fare and I personally liked it much more than Fasika. The place is a sit down kind of place with the level of prices and service typical of the ethnic places with this format (~$8-$12 for most entrees) and it is great for longer lunch breaks. On Thursday it runs an all you can eat buffet (which I still didn't get an occasion to try) and it has a special for students (I think is around $6 or $7 for an entree). It is a great new addition to the area and I can see myself going back there when I want to treat myself to a longer lunch break.
(5)
Elana H.
The food was very delicious (especially the sambusa), and the service was great. Everyone was very kind and gave us tips on how the use the injera to scoop up the entree. The baklava is also quite yummy, but you might need to take it to go since the meals are so large and filling. The decor is simple, but accurate (according to my Ethiopian boyfriend, who joined me and loved the decor and the food). Pricing is the same as most places, but the amount of food and the quality of it is definitely worth what they charge. Try it!
(5)
Josh M.
Most wonderful and delicious food!! The staff is always so friendly and cheerful, and always ready for a good recommendation. Never a bad meal here, coming back again and again :)
(5)
Tess G.
Hmm, went back here a few weeks ago because I had been bragging about to a friend who loves ethnic food and I was VERY disappointed. Usually the service is wonderful but this was the definitely not the case this time. We had to ask our server for water and menus (she seemed very confused of why we were asking for such items). We then had to again ask her if we could order and she again seemed very unsure of what to do next. We then asked to see a drinks menu and this took her about 10 minutes to bring us even though there were only a few other customers in the place. Once we received that menu, I had a question about a beer and she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. We finally got our appetizer (Fule) and it was pretty good, the bread has been fresher in past visits though. Once our main dishes came, the real fun began. Each dish came out with at least 5 minutes between each other (there were 3 of us). She gave the wrong dishes to my friend but insisted it was the one he ordered so he proceeded to eat it. After about 10 minutes had passed, another main entree came out and it was in fact the one he had actually ordered (at this point over half of the first dish to be brought out had been ate). This server seemed like a bat in the headlights when we confronted her. I could tell she did not speak nor understand English very well from the start but I am an open minded and global citizen that always gives one the benefit of the doubt. But at this point, the service was just so horrible that I beckoned for one of the servers I normally have (who I know speaks English) to come over to our table and attempt to sort out this whole mess. She immediately saw the problem and the chef/owner came over to apologize. The food was delicious as always but I could not get over the horrible service. In the end, we convinced them to charge half for my friend's mystery dish. I really did not want to write this review because I love small run, ethnic places but this server clearly needs more training or should find a new career. Bottomline is that the food is wonderful but the service leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)
Amy H.
Fantastic experience and food. Great food and great service. They even accommodated a special request.
(5)
Idrissa Y.
Dilla's is one of my favorite restaurant in the twin City. They have a wonderful staff, that always make you feel welcome. Also the food is so delicious. I always order a Lamb curry, but they all type of Ethiopian food, for vegetarian or for meat eater like myself. Go check that out, and you won't regret!!
(5)
Kianna E.
This place is amazing!!! The waitresses were friendly and the food was great-we ordered the veggie combination platter and the three combo platter for two people, with plenty of leftovers. Also, I would highly recommend getting the coffee. The presentation is really cool and the coffee is smooth and flavorful.
(4)
jizzie b.
Injera was too spongy, not enough teff. Veggie combo was average except for the Fesolea (Green beans, carrots, potatoes, onions, and pepper cooked in mild sauce) which I hadn't had elsewhere, sweet surprise!
(2)
Solan T.
Good food and service. I highly recommend this place. The kitfo and tibse will make you go back for more.
(5)
Dave R.
A traditional Ethiopian restaurant. The owner is the cook and her daughter are servers (at least they were when we went). You get your meal on a platter of injera (bread), and you eat using the bread. Silverware available. If you come in a group, all the food is on one platter. Good food and an extensive menu, including many vegetarian choices. Most basic dishes run $11-$13. They have a small buffet on Thursdays and Sundays. The booths are good and tables in the front room can be moved around for larger groups.
(4)
Richard Y.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've eaten so far in the Twin Cities. Everything on the vegetarian platter was good and I will definitely be back. A veggie platter with an extra order of Misir Wat was more than enough to feed three people and still have lots of leftovers.
(4)
Roxy M.
Delish! wonderful food, place and people.
(5)
James W.
Great authentic food. Great people at the restaurant
(5)
Irene D.
I love this place. The service is friendly despite language barriers and the food is absolutely scrumptious. My friend and I came here and ordered a Vegetarian Sambusa appetizer and the veggie combination. The Sambusas took a while to come out, but it turns out it's because they are fried to order. They were hot, crispy and the filling on the inside was well-spiced. I am incapable of ever choosing just one entree at an Ethiopian restaurant, so I always opt for the "combination" deals. The menu listed the veggie combination as any combination of about 8 different entrees. I asked if we had to choose, but the waitress said that we do indeed get all 8 dishes. The combination plate came, large and looming with piles of curried legumes, chopped greens, dried vegetables and salad a top a large injera. We each received a basket with our own piece of injera for eating. We ate ourselves into a stupor in 15 minutes flat. Each bite was very flavorful and the variety of dishes on the plate meant our palates never dulled. The portions here are EXTREMELY generous. By the end, we still had a good half of our plate in front of us. We realized that next time, we would have to find a third person to share in our Ethiopian adventure. Perhaps next time, with a third person in tow, we will try to order the meat entree combination to share. Can't wait!
(5)
Timothy F.
Dilla's continues to deliver delicious Ethiopian food at great prices. The veggies sampler was full of flavor and every dish was served nice and hot. The kitfo may not be for everyone, but it was delicious. For the best kitfo, order it rare or medium rare. The consistency is a little bit different from the kitfo at Fasika, but the flavor is incredible. The flavor of coriander and spiced butter is out of this world. I will continue to visit Dilla's when I'm in the mood for delicious Ethiopian.
(4)
Kenneth H.
Worst experience I have had in a long time. There is a sign outside that says something like "student buffet 8 dishes". In the entrance is another sign that says something like "student buffet 4 dishes". By the time they have you sitting down, the "buffet" is two choices and even after the "student discount" I was paying nearly 10 dollars. Food tasted like leftovers not sufficiently reheated. This is one of two instances in my entire life I have not left a tip due to feeling the place was a sham. Do yourself a favor and visit the AfroDeli a few doors down or Fasika in St. Paul.
(1)
Kianna E.
This place is amazing!!! The waitresses were friendly and the food was great-we ordered the veggie combination platter and the three combo platter for two people, with plenty of leftovers. Also, I would highly recommend getting the coffee. The presentation is really cool and the coffee is smooth and flavorful.
(4)
jizzie b.
Injera was too spongy, not enough teff. Veggie combo was average except for the Fesolea (Green beans, carrots, potatoes, onions, and pepper cooked in mild sauce) which I hadn't had elsewhere, sweet surprise!
(2)
Solan T.
Good food and service. I highly recommend this place. The kitfo and tibse will make you go back for more.
(5)
Nana P.
$9.99 wonderful Thursday buffet. We were planning to go to Hard Times Cafe when we saw that they only took cash, so in a moment of spontaneity we decided to walk around and find another restaurant. It was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant and the buffet was a perfect way to sample a variety of delicious dishes. Most of the dishes were also vegetarian. Staff was also extremely friendly and helpful in pointing out vegetarian dishes, as well as keeping the buffet fully stocked. Very satisfied and will be back again !!
(5)
Paola M.
It is a family restaurant, meaning I felt like I was at the owners' house instead of at a restaurant. And I loved it. The menu is rather long and it has plenty of options, including a large vegetarian selection. The items are traditional Somali fare and I personally liked it much more than Fasika. The place is a sit down kind of place with the level of prices and service typical of the ethnic places with this format (~$8-$12 for most entrees) and it is great for longer lunch breaks. On Thursday it runs an all you can eat buffet (which I still didn't get an occasion to try) and it has a special for students (I think is around $6 or $7 for an entree). It is a great new addition to the area and I can see myself going back there when I want to treat myself to a longer lunch break.
(5)
Elana H.
The food was very delicious (especially the sambusa), and the service was great. Everyone was very kind and gave us tips on how the use the injera to scoop up the entree. The baklava is also quite yummy, but you might need to take it to go since the meals are so large and filling. The decor is simple, but accurate (according to my Ethiopian boyfriend, who joined me and loved the decor and the food). Pricing is the same as most places, but the amount of food and the quality of it is definitely worth what they charge. Try it!
(5)
Josh M.
Most wonderful and delicious food!! The staff is always so friendly and cheerful, and always ready for a good recommendation. Never a bad meal here, coming back again and again :)
(5)
Dave R.
A traditional Ethiopian restaurant. The owner is the cook and her daughter are servers (at least they were when we went). You get your meal on a platter of injera (bread), and you eat using the bread. Silverware available. If you come in a group, all the food is on one platter. Good food and an extensive menu, including many vegetarian choices. Most basic dishes run $11-$13. They have a small buffet on Thursdays and Sundays. The booths are good and tables in the front room can be moved around for larger groups.
(4)
Irene D.
I love this place. The service is friendly despite language barriers and the food is absolutely scrumptious. My friend and I came here and ordered a Vegetarian Sambusa appetizer and the veggie combination. The Sambusas took a while to come out, but it turns out it's because they are fried to order. They were hot, crispy and the filling on the inside was well-spiced. I am incapable of ever choosing just one entree at an Ethiopian restaurant, so I always opt for the "combination" deals. The menu listed the veggie combination as any combination of about 8 different entrees. I asked if we had to choose, but the waitress said that we do indeed get all 8 dishes. The combination plate came, large and looming with piles of curried legumes, chopped greens, dried vegetables and salad a top a large injera. We each received a basket with our own piece of injera for eating. We ate ourselves into a stupor in 15 minutes flat. Each bite was very flavorful and the variety of dishes on the plate meant our palates never dulled. The portions here are EXTREMELY generous. By the end, we still had a good half of our plate in front of us. We realized that next time, we would have to find a third person to share in our Ethiopian adventure. Perhaps next time, with a third person in tow, we will try to order the meat entree combination to share. Can't wait!
(5)
Timothy F.
Dilla's continues to deliver delicious Ethiopian food at great prices. The veggies sampler was full of flavor and every dish was served nice and hot. The kitfo may not be for everyone, but it was delicious. For the best kitfo, order it rare or medium rare. The consistency is a little bit different from the kitfo at Fasika, but the flavor is incredible. The flavor of coriander and spiced butter is out of this world. I will continue to visit Dilla's when I'm in the mood for delicious Ethiopian.
(4)
Kenneth H.
Worst experience I have had in a long time. There is a sign outside that says something like "student buffet 8 dishes". In the entrance is another sign that says something like "student buffet 4 dishes". By the time they have you sitting down, the "buffet" is two choices and even after the "student discount" I was paying nearly 10 dollars. Food tasted like leftovers not sufficiently reheated. This is one of two instances in my entire life I have not left a tip due to feeling the place was a sham. Do yourself a favor and visit the AfroDeli a few doors down or Fasika in St. Paul.
(1)
Rachel F.
good veg options
(4)
Jen Z.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've had in years.
(5)
Michael H.
Terrific! Full of flavor, friendly service, and fairly priced.
(5)
Richard Y.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've eaten so far in the Twin Cities. Everything on the vegetarian platter was good and I will definitely be back. A veggie platter with an extra order of Misir Wat was more than enough to feed three people and still have lots of leftovers.
(4)
Roxy M.
Delish! wonderful food, place and people.
(5)
James W.
Great authentic food. Great people at the restaurant
(5)
Dee C.
The food is definitely five-star, but the service is VERY SLOW. I'm thinking it may be cultural dissonance. Americans tend to want to order and eat on their lunch hour, not a two hour lunch. I've even tried ordering to go and/or calling in the order to have it ready when I arrive. It's never ready and always "almost ready" (meaning another 15 to 20 minutes). They are usually very nice but they do appear to be nicer to the men. Again it may be a cultural thing because I've seen lots of waitresses be nicer to men (probably for better tips) so not sure. I've had waiters be more "flirty" when I'm with all females so it goes both ways.
(3)
Charlie B.
Being a vegetarian there are plenty of great selections...great tasting food...everytime I am near the west bank this is my first choice...I love this restaurant...friendly service!!!
(5)
Gutama H.
It's one of the best place you want to be if you are around Twin Cities. Their service,quality and best food East African food!! Please visit and im guaranteed you will enjoy the time you spent there. I have been there many times I never disappointed their service and quality of their food!!
(5)
Jessica S.
Situated just steps away from the UMN West Bank Campus, yet not overrun by the student population, is this little Ethiopian joint that offers a Thurs / Sun buffet for a mere $10 per head. Yesterday, I finally got the chance to pig out during the Thurs buffet... Plenty of variety, with about 6 veggie-friendly dishes including my favorite - a spicy brown lentil stew. Other notable mentions included the warm red beets, the spiced collard greens, and some flash fried green beans and carrots. Thick rolls of deliciously fresh injera (spongy sourdough-flavored bread designed to be used in lieu of utensils) accompanied. Everything was so good and satisfactory in quality, though the pools of oil tipped me off that I might not be consuming diet-aligned food. Note: I'm hypersensitive to oily food and this was not anywhere near nasty enough to irritate my stomach. Dilla's has a far-away Sub-Saharan vibe to it, yet seems to be a local gathering place for expats. It's beautified by colorfully-patterned mesob baskets, bright and bold paintings of native folks captured performing the mundane (i.e. hair weaving), and a traditional bunna coffee set. We were seated in a cozy side room with ample natural lighting. In the main dining / buffet areas, a rather intimate space, was situated a bar. At the time (just prior to 3 p.m.), it was occupied by several men engaged in foreign yet clearly jovial conversation with, whom I can only assume was, the matronly owner of the joint. Warm and proud, the woman inquired how we enjoyed our meal. I assured her it was delicious and that we'd be returning back soon.
(5)
Jordan M.
Have eaten here a number of times, and enjoyed everything. The food is delicious, and it is a really good price. Parking can kind of suck depending on the day you go there, but it hasn't been too much of a problem. I particularly like the eatery because my wife is a vegetarian, and being a meat-eater, it's hard to find a place we can both agree on. Dilla's has really good options for the both of us.
(5)
Andy L.
Rica and I got delivery 25 minutes ago. We got a vegetarian sampler and Doro Tibs, which is a spicy chicken dish. We liked the vegetables a lot. The chicken had nice flavor, but was slightly dry in parts. We ate very fast and got happy.
(5)
Diana M.
Yum! Checking "Eat Ethiopian Food" off our list on our trip to MN was important! Dillas did an awesome job. When you walk in the door you're not sure what to do... some folks at the bar sort of stood around and I wasn't sure if they were guests or employees. it's a small place and would be tough for a crowd of 6+ if you didn't plan on using the whole restaurant. You walk downstairs to the creepy bathroom, but all these are overcome by the deliciousness of the food. I was nervous about introducing two of our friends to ethiopian but Dilla's held their own. The waitress was very sweet and helped me pick out a platter that would be big enough. We basically ordered the vegetarian platter and the combination platter. I also tried the Ethiopian coffee for the heck of it - some extremely strong espresso in a tiny adorable coffee pot with some frothy cream. I had to add a heck of some sugar to it to match my taste but it was a cool little extra. All the dishes on the platter were great. I won't pretend to be able to identify them all but the lentils are delicious, they include the traditional salad and cheese too; the doro wot was good, and the red lentils = VERY spicy! There was also something like beets, I think, that I hadn't seen at other E places, and it was actually extremely good! The two platters was TOO much for 5 people and at about $12/person it wasn't too bad. We could easily have fed 6 or even 7 with the same food. I would go back if I'm ever in the area!
(4)
Holley V.
There are a few good places in town to eat Ethiopian, but Dilla's in the best. I usually get the Awaze Tibs and tea. The inera bread that comes with is great! Sometimes, my husband orders the Kifto and we get an appetizer of sambusa to eat with the tasty sauce! Parking can be crazy, and I wish they had more spaces in the lot next door. The other thing is that sometimes there is only one or two servers for the whole restaurant. The foods so good that I temporarily become a patient person.
(5)
Anthony S.
I've been coming to Dillas for 3-4 years now, I can't imagine a better tasting restaurant with kind and consistent service. All of my meals are satisfying, I walk away full, and with left overs! They have recently upgraded their decor with brand new tables and chairs! I highly recommend Dillas to anyone looking for a chill atmosphere and tasty Ethiopian cuisine.
(5)
Tony J.
The people were friendly enough, but the service wasn't great. Most importantly of all, we did not enjoy our food. The roll that they served had the consistency and sponginess of a baby's arm... and not in a good way! Ate here once and Would definitely not dine here again...
(1)
Dmitriy K.
Worst service ever. Took 30 min to get a bean dip appetizer, and then ordered the 5 combo meal which made me sick most of the night. Not good.
(1)
Eva D.
Fresh, delicious and authentic food. We tried the beef sambusas and the vegetarian combo plate. Both were excellent! As others have noted, service can be slow so go when you are not in a big hurry.
(4)
Howie K.
We'll go a long, long way out of our way to dine on Ethiopian. We flew all the way from Albuquerque to Minneapolis to chow down on these eats, and let me tell ya, it was every second of the flight. We also happened into a relative's wedding while we were in the Cities. Strange coincidence. Again, I state with emphatic determination, ABQ needs Ethiopian. Even the sort of average eats, like those we had at Dilla's, are such a unique change of culinary pace and so fun to eat. Dilla's doesn't offer any fluff, no flare, just home cooked recipes and (during our visit) really friendly service. The injera was very cold, which kinda flattened the warm toppings available from the buffet, but no matter. Our bellies were full, our toddler was coddled, good times. Hey Dilla's, I know of a place where the summers are hot and the winters are basically snow-free. Wanna set up shop in New Mexico?
(3)
Elizabeth D.
Best Ethiopian in town. Blue Nile was my fav, but the flavors and quality are better here. My husband and I shared the veggie platter and both left very full. So tasty!!!
(5)
Kalkidan A.
Best Ethiopian restaurant in the Cities! You won't regret it ... Please go and test the delicious variety of foods!
(5)
Henok T.
I like this place - the service leaves more to be desired; as does the decor but the food delivers! I needed it as my first meal after moving to Minneapolis and I considered it fate since this place was the closest restaurant to my hotel :)
(4)
Mohamed I.
Excellent food. My wife craves the zigni with boiled eggs. Food takes a lil time but it's so tasty. I've already came this place twice. I also tried their burger combo. Tasty fries and burgers . I would recommend this place to anyone .
(5)
Ellen C.
Just wanted to quickly update the price of the combination has gone up to $13.
(5)
Omnivore E.
Delicious, authentic and great service. The negative was that the meat variety was three kinds of meat in the same sauce. The veg assortment made up for it though. I was ready to be disappointed due to previous low flavor, low seasoning experiences at ethnic restaurants catering to MN natives. This place was a welcome surprise.
(4)
Zakster C.
Yelp reviews did not disappoint. Authentic Ethiopian food in MN. Must try.
(5)
Ahmed A.
The food was good but the customer service was terrible. You better not go there hungry because it will take them forever to bring your food out. They only have two super slow waitresses that takes care of taking orders, cleaning and cashing you our.
(2)
Sam H.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious and authentic and the prices are reasonable. For years, I thought Fasika had the best Ethiopian food in town but now Dilla`s is my favorite. I highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Tess G.
Hmm, went back here a few weeks ago because I had been bragging about to a friend who loves ethnic food and I was VERY disappointed. Usually the service is wonderful but this was the definitely not the case this time. We had to ask our server for water and menus (she seemed very confused of why we were asking for such items). We then had to again ask her if we could order and she again seemed very unsure of what to do next. We then asked to see a drinks menu and this took her about 10 minutes to bring us even though there were only a few other customers in the place. Once we received that menu, I had a question about a beer and she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. We finally got our appetizer (Fule) and it was pretty good, the bread has been fresher in past visits though. Once our main dishes came, the real fun began. Each dish came out with at least 5 minutes between each other (there were 3 of us). She gave the wrong dishes to my friend but insisted it was the one he ordered so he proceeded to eat it. After about 10 minutes had passed, another main entree came out and it was in fact the one he had actually ordered (at this point over half of the first dish to be brought out had been ate). This server seemed like a bat in the headlights when we confronted her. I could tell she did not speak nor understand English very well from the start but I am an open minded and global citizen that always gives one the benefit of the doubt. But at this point, the service was just so horrible that I beckoned for one of the servers I normally have (who I know speaks English) to come over to our table and attempt to sort out this whole mess. She immediately saw the problem and the chef/owner came over to apologize. The food was delicious as always but I could not get over the horrible service. In the end, we convinced them to charge half for my friend's mystery dish. I really did not want to write this review because I love small run, ethnic places but this server clearly needs more training or should find a new career. Bottomline is that the food is wonderful but the service leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)
Amy H.
Fantastic experience and food. Great food and great service. They even accommodated a special request.
(5)
Idrissa Y.
Dilla's is one of my favorite restaurant in the twin City. They have a wonderful staff, that always make you feel welcome. Also the food is so delicious. I always order a Lamb curry, but they all type of Ethiopian food, for vegetarian or for meat eater like myself. Go check that out, and you won't regret!!
(5)
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Address :1813 Riverside Ave N
Minneapolis, MN, 55454
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Zakster C.
Yelp reviews did not disappoint. Authentic Ethiopian food in MN. Must try.
(5)Michael H.
Terrific! Full of flavor, friendly service, and fairly priced.
(5)Diana M.
Yum! Checking "Eat Ethiopian Food" off our list on our trip to MN was important! Dillas did an awesome job. When you walk in the door you're not sure what to do... some folks at the bar sort of stood around and I wasn't sure if they were guests or employees. it's a small place and would be tough for a crowd of 6+ if you didn't plan on using the whole restaurant. You walk downstairs to the creepy bathroom, but all these are overcome by the deliciousness of the food. I was nervous about introducing two of our friends to ethiopian but Dilla's held their own. The waitress was very sweet and helped me pick out a platter that would be big enough. We basically ordered the vegetarian platter and the combination platter. I also tried the Ethiopian coffee for the heck of it - some extremely strong espresso in a tiny adorable coffee pot with some frothy cream. I had to add a heck of some sugar to it to match my taste but it was a cool little extra. All the dishes on the platter were great. I won't pretend to be able to identify them all but the lentils are delicious, they include the traditional salad and cheese too; the doro wot was good, and the red lentils = VERY spicy! There was also something like beets, I think, that I hadn't seen at other E places, and it was actually extremely good! The two platters was TOO much for 5 people and at about $12/person it wasn't too bad. We could easily have fed 6 or even 7 with the same food. I would go back if I'm ever in the area!
(4)Holley V.
There are a few good places in town to eat Ethiopian, but Dilla's in the best. I usually get the Awaze Tibs and tea. The inera bread that comes with is great! Sometimes, my husband orders the Kifto and we get an appetizer of sambusa to eat with the tasty sauce! Parking can be crazy, and I wish they had more spaces in the lot next door. The other thing is that sometimes there is only one or two servers for the whole restaurant. The foods so good that I temporarily become a patient person.
(5)Eva D.
Fresh, delicious and authentic food. We tried the beef sambusas and the vegetarian combo plate. Both were excellent! As others have noted, service can be slow so go when you are not in a big hurry.
(4)Howie K.
We'll go a long, long way out of our way to dine on Ethiopian. We flew all the way from Albuquerque to Minneapolis to chow down on these eats, and let me tell ya, it was every second of the flight. We also happened into a relative's wedding while we were in the Cities. Strange coincidence. Again, I state with emphatic determination, ABQ needs Ethiopian. Even the sort of average eats, like those we had at Dilla's, are such a unique change of culinary pace and so fun to eat. Dilla's doesn't offer any fluff, no flare, just home cooked recipes and (during our visit) really friendly service. The injera was very cold, which kinda flattened the warm toppings available from the buffet, but no matter. Our bellies were full, our toddler was coddled, good times. Hey Dilla's, I know of a place where the summers are hot and the winters are basically snow-free. Wanna set up shop in New Mexico?
(3)Elizabeth D.
Best Ethiopian in town. Blue Nile was my fav, but the flavors and quality are better here. My husband and I shared the veggie platter and both left very full. So tasty!!!
(5)Kalkidan A.
Best Ethiopian restaurant in the Cities! You won't regret it ... Please go and test the delicious variety of foods!
(5)Henok T.
I like this place - the service leaves more to be desired; as does the decor but the food delivers! I needed it as my first meal after moving to Minneapolis and I considered it fate since this place was the closest restaurant to my hotel :)
(4)Mohamed I.
Excellent food. My wife craves the zigni with boiled eggs. Food takes a lil time but it's so tasty. I've already came this place twice. I also tried their burger combo. Tasty fries and burgers . I would recommend this place to anyone .
(5)Ellen C.
Just wanted to quickly update the price of the combination has gone up to $13.
(5)Omnivore E.
Delicious, authentic and great service. The negative was that the meat variety was three kinds of meat in the same sauce. The veg assortment made up for it though. I was ready to be disappointed due to previous low flavor, low seasoning experiences at ethnic restaurants catering to MN natives. This place was a welcome surprise.
(4)Ahmed A.
The food was good but the customer service was terrible. You better not go there hungry because it will take them forever to bring your food out. They only have two super slow waitresses that takes care of taking orders, cleaning and cashing you our.
(2)Sam H.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious and authentic and the prices are reasonable. For years, I thought Fasika had the best Ethiopian food in town but now Dilla`s is my favorite. I highly recommend it!!!
(5)Jordan M.
Have eaten here a number of times, and enjoyed everything. The food is delicious, and it is a really good price. Parking can kind of suck depending on the day you go there, but it hasn't been too much of a problem. I particularly like the eatery because my wife is a vegetarian, and being a meat-eater, it's hard to find a place we can both agree on. Dilla's has really good options for the both of us.
(5)Andy L.
Rica and I got delivery 25 minutes ago. We got a vegetarian sampler and Doro Tibs, which is a spicy chicken dish. We liked the vegetables a lot. The chicken had nice flavor, but was slightly dry in parts. We ate very fast and got happy.
(5)Anthony S.
I've been coming to Dillas for 3-4 years now, I can't imagine a better tasting restaurant with kind and consistent service. All of my meals are satisfying, I walk away full, and with left overs! They have recently upgraded their decor with brand new tables and chairs! I highly recommend Dillas to anyone looking for a chill atmosphere and tasty Ethiopian cuisine.
(5)Tony J.
The people were friendly enough, but the service wasn't great. Most importantly of all, we did not enjoy our food. The roll that they served had the consistency and sponginess of a baby's arm... and not in a good way! Ate here once and Would definitely not dine here again...
(1)Dmitriy K.
Worst service ever. Took 30 min to get a bean dip appetizer, and then ordered the 5 combo meal which made me sick most of the night. Not good.
(1)Jessica S.
Situated just steps away from the UMN West Bank Campus, yet not overrun by the student population, is this little Ethiopian joint that offers a Thurs / Sun buffet for a mere $10 per head. Yesterday, I finally got the chance to pig out during the Thurs buffet... Plenty of variety, with about 6 veggie-friendly dishes including my favorite - a spicy brown lentil stew. Other notable mentions included the warm red beets, the spiced collard greens, and some flash fried green beans and carrots. Thick rolls of deliciously fresh injera (spongy sourdough-flavored bread designed to be used in lieu of utensils) accompanied. Everything was so good and satisfactory in quality, though the pools of oil tipped me off that I might not be consuming diet-aligned food. Note: I'm hypersensitive to oily food and this was not anywhere near nasty enough to irritate my stomach. Dilla's has a far-away Sub-Saharan vibe to it, yet seems to be a local gathering place for expats. It's beautified by colorfully-patterned mesob baskets, bright and bold paintings of native folks captured performing the mundane (i.e. hair weaving), and a traditional bunna coffee set. We were seated in a cozy side room with ample natural lighting. In the main dining / buffet areas, a rather intimate space, was situated a bar. At the time (just prior to 3 p.m.), it was occupied by several men engaged in foreign yet clearly jovial conversation with, whom I can only assume was, the matronly owner of the joint. Warm and proud, the woman inquired how we enjoyed our meal. I assured her it was delicious and that we'd be returning back soon.
(5)Charlie B.
Being a vegetarian there are plenty of great selections...great tasting food...everytime I am near the west bank this is my first choice...I love this restaurant...friendly service!!!
(5)Gutama H.
It's one of the best place you want to be if you are around Twin Cities. Their service,quality and best food East African food!! Please visit and im guaranteed you will enjoy the time you spent there. I have been there many times I never disappointed their service and quality of their food!!
(5)Rachel F.
good veg options
(4)Jen Z.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've had in years.
(5)Dee C.
The food is definitely five-star, but the service is VERY SLOW. I'm thinking it may be cultural dissonance. Americans tend to want to order and eat on their lunch hour, not a two hour lunch. I've even tried ordering to go and/or calling in the order to have it ready when I arrive. It's never ready and always "almost ready" (meaning another 15 to 20 minutes). They are usually very nice but they do appear to be nicer to the men. Again it may be a cultural thing because I've seen lots of waitresses be nicer to men (probably for better tips) so not sure. I've had waiters be more "flirty" when I'm with all females so it goes both ways.
(3)Nana P.
$9.99 wonderful Thursday buffet. We were planning to go to Hard Times Cafe when we saw that they only took cash, so in a moment of spontaneity we decided to walk around and find another restaurant. It was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant and the buffet was a perfect way to sample a variety of delicious dishes. Most of the dishes were also vegetarian. Staff was also extremely friendly and helpful in pointing out vegetarian dishes, as well as keeping the buffet fully stocked. Very satisfied and will be back again !!
(5)Paola M.
It is a family restaurant, meaning I felt like I was at the owners' house instead of at a restaurant. And I loved it. The menu is rather long and it has plenty of options, including a large vegetarian selection. The items are traditional Somali fare and I personally liked it much more than Fasika. The place is a sit down kind of place with the level of prices and service typical of the ethnic places with this format (~$8-$12 for most entrees) and it is great for longer lunch breaks. On Thursday it runs an all you can eat buffet (which I still didn't get an occasion to try) and it has a special for students (I think is around $6 or $7 for an entree). It is a great new addition to the area and I can see myself going back there when I want to treat myself to a longer lunch break.
(5)Elana H.
The food was very delicious (especially the sambusa), and the service was great. Everyone was very kind and gave us tips on how the use the injera to scoop up the entree. The baklava is also quite yummy, but you might need to take it to go since the meals are so large and filling. The decor is simple, but accurate (according to my Ethiopian boyfriend, who joined me and loved the decor and the food). Pricing is the same as most places, but the amount of food and the quality of it is definitely worth what they charge. Try it!
(5)Josh M.
Most wonderful and delicious food!! The staff is always so friendly and cheerful, and always ready for a good recommendation. Never a bad meal here, coming back again and again :)
(5)Tess G.
Hmm, went back here a few weeks ago because I had been bragging about to a friend who loves ethnic food and I was VERY disappointed. Usually the service is wonderful but this was the definitely not the case this time. We had to ask our server for water and menus (she seemed very confused of why we were asking for such items). We then had to again ask her if we could order and she again seemed very unsure of what to do next. We then asked to see a drinks menu and this took her about 10 minutes to bring us even though there were only a few other customers in the place. Once we received that menu, I had a question about a beer and she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. We finally got our appetizer (Fule) and it was pretty good, the bread has been fresher in past visits though. Once our main dishes came, the real fun began. Each dish came out with at least 5 minutes between each other (there were 3 of us). She gave the wrong dishes to my friend but insisted it was the one he ordered so he proceeded to eat it. After about 10 minutes had passed, another main entree came out and it was in fact the one he had actually ordered (at this point over half of the first dish to be brought out had been ate). This server seemed like a bat in the headlights when we confronted her. I could tell she did not speak nor understand English very well from the start but I am an open minded and global citizen that always gives one the benefit of the doubt. But at this point, the service was just so horrible that I beckoned for one of the servers I normally have (who I know speaks English) to come over to our table and attempt to sort out this whole mess. She immediately saw the problem and the chef/owner came over to apologize. The food was delicious as always but I could not get over the horrible service. In the end, we convinced them to charge half for my friend's mystery dish. I really did not want to write this review because I love small run, ethnic places but this server clearly needs more training or should find a new career. Bottomline is that the food is wonderful but the service leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)Amy H.
Fantastic experience and food. Great food and great service. They even accommodated a special request.
(5)Idrissa Y.
Dilla's is one of my favorite restaurant in the twin City. They have a wonderful staff, that always make you feel welcome. Also the food is so delicious. I always order a Lamb curry, but they all type of Ethiopian food, for vegetarian or for meat eater like myself. Go check that out, and you won't regret!!
(5)Kianna E.
This place is amazing!!! The waitresses were friendly and the food was great-we ordered the veggie combination platter and the three combo platter for two people, with plenty of leftovers. Also, I would highly recommend getting the coffee. The presentation is really cool and the coffee is smooth and flavorful.
(4)jizzie b.
Injera was too spongy, not enough teff. Veggie combo was average except for the Fesolea (Green beans, carrots, potatoes, onions, and pepper cooked in mild sauce) which I hadn't had elsewhere, sweet surprise!
(2)Solan T.
Good food and service. I highly recommend this place. The kitfo and tibse will make you go back for more.
(5)Dave R.
A traditional Ethiopian restaurant. The owner is the cook and her daughter are servers (at least they were when we went). You get your meal on a platter of injera (bread), and you eat using the bread. Silverware available. If you come in a group, all the food is on one platter. Good food and an extensive menu, including many vegetarian choices. Most basic dishes run $11-$13. They have a small buffet on Thursdays and Sundays. The booths are good and tables in the front room can be moved around for larger groups.
(4)Richard Y.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've eaten so far in the Twin Cities. Everything on the vegetarian platter was good and I will definitely be back. A veggie platter with an extra order of Misir Wat was more than enough to feed three people and still have lots of leftovers.
(4)Roxy M.
Delish! wonderful food, place and people.
(5)James W.
Great authentic food. Great people at the restaurant
(5)Irene D.
I love this place. The service is friendly despite language barriers and the food is absolutely scrumptious. My friend and I came here and ordered a Vegetarian Sambusa appetizer and the veggie combination. The Sambusas took a while to come out, but it turns out it's because they are fried to order. They were hot, crispy and the filling on the inside was well-spiced. I am incapable of ever choosing just one entree at an Ethiopian restaurant, so I always opt for the "combination" deals. The menu listed the veggie combination as any combination of about 8 different entrees. I asked if we had to choose, but the waitress said that we do indeed get all 8 dishes. The combination plate came, large and looming with piles of curried legumes, chopped greens, dried vegetables and salad a top a large injera. We each received a basket with our own piece of injera for eating. We ate ourselves into a stupor in 15 minutes flat. Each bite was very flavorful and the variety of dishes on the plate meant our palates never dulled. The portions here are EXTREMELY generous. By the end, we still had a good half of our plate in front of us. We realized that next time, we would have to find a third person to share in our Ethiopian adventure. Perhaps next time, with a third person in tow, we will try to order the meat entree combination to share. Can't wait!
(5)Timothy F.
Dilla's continues to deliver delicious Ethiopian food at great prices. The veggies sampler was full of flavor and every dish was served nice and hot. The kitfo may not be for everyone, but it was delicious. For the best kitfo, order it rare or medium rare. The consistency is a little bit different from the kitfo at Fasika, but the flavor is incredible. The flavor of coriander and spiced butter is out of this world. I will continue to visit Dilla's when I'm in the mood for delicious Ethiopian.
(4)Kenneth H.
Worst experience I have had in a long time. There is a sign outside that says something like "student buffet 8 dishes". In the entrance is another sign that says something like "student buffet 4 dishes". By the time they have you sitting down, the "buffet" is two choices and even after the "student discount" I was paying nearly 10 dollars. Food tasted like leftovers not sufficiently reheated. This is one of two instances in my entire life I have not left a tip due to feeling the place was a sham. Do yourself a favor and visit the AfroDeli a few doors down or Fasika in St. Paul.
(1)Kianna E.
This place is amazing!!! The waitresses were friendly and the food was great-we ordered the veggie combination platter and the three combo platter for two people, with plenty of leftovers. Also, I would highly recommend getting the coffee. The presentation is really cool and the coffee is smooth and flavorful.
(4)jizzie b.
Injera was too spongy, not enough teff. Veggie combo was average except for the Fesolea (Green beans, carrots, potatoes, onions, and pepper cooked in mild sauce) which I hadn't had elsewhere, sweet surprise!
(2)Solan T.
Good food and service. I highly recommend this place. The kitfo and tibse will make you go back for more.
(5)Nana P.
$9.99 wonderful Thursday buffet. We were planning to go to Hard Times Cafe when we saw that they only took cash, so in a moment of spontaneity we decided to walk around and find another restaurant. It was my first time at an Ethiopian restaurant and the buffet was a perfect way to sample a variety of delicious dishes. Most of the dishes were also vegetarian. Staff was also extremely friendly and helpful in pointing out vegetarian dishes, as well as keeping the buffet fully stocked. Very satisfied and will be back again !!
(5)Paola M.
It is a family restaurant, meaning I felt like I was at the owners' house instead of at a restaurant. And I loved it. The menu is rather long and it has plenty of options, including a large vegetarian selection. The items are traditional Somali fare and I personally liked it much more than Fasika. The place is a sit down kind of place with the level of prices and service typical of the ethnic places with this format (~$8-$12 for most entrees) and it is great for longer lunch breaks. On Thursday it runs an all you can eat buffet (which I still didn't get an occasion to try) and it has a special for students (I think is around $6 or $7 for an entree). It is a great new addition to the area and I can see myself going back there when I want to treat myself to a longer lunch break.
(5)Elana H.
The food was very delicious (especially the sambusa), and the service was great. Everyone was very kind and gave us tips on how the use the injera to scoop up the entree. The baklava is also quite yummy, but you might need to take it to go since the meals are so large and filling. The decor is simple, but accurate (according to my Ethiopian boyfriend, who joined me and loved the decor and the food). Pricing is the same as most places, but the amount of food and the quality of it is definitely worth what they charge. Try it!
(5)Josh M.
Most wonderful and delicious food!! The staff is always so friendly and cheerful, and always ready for a good recommendation. Never a bad meal here, coming back again and again :)
(5)Dave R.
A traditional Ethiopian restaurant. The owner is the cook and her daughter are servers (at least they were when we went). You get your meal on a platter of injera (bread), and you eat using the bread. Silverware available. If you come in a group, all the food is on one platter. Good food and an extensive menu, including many vegetarian choices. Most basic dishes run $11-$13. They have a small buffet on Thursdays and Sundays. The booths are good and tables in the front room can be moved around for larger groups.
(4)Irene D.
I love this place. The service is friendly despite language barriers and the food is absolutely scrumptious. My friend and I came here and ordered a Vegetarian Sambusa appetizer and the veggie combination. The Sambusas took a while to come out, but it turns out it's because they are fried to order. They were hot, crispy and the filling on the inside was well-spiced. I am incapable of ever choosing just one entree at an Ethiopian restaurant, so I always opt for the "combination" deals. The menu listed the veggie combination as any combination of about 8 different entrees. I asked if we had to choose, but the waitress said that we do indeed get all 8 dishes. The combination plate came, large and looming with piles of curried legumes, chopped greens, dried vegetables and salad a top a large injera. We each received a basket with our own piece of injera for eating. We ate ourselves into a stupor in 15 minutes flat. Each bite was very flavorful and the variety of dishes on the plate meant our palates never dulled. The portions here are EXTREMELY generous. By the end, we still had a good half of our plate in front of us. We realized that next time, we would have to find a third person to share in our Ethiopian adventure. Perhaps next time, with a third person in tow, we will try to order the meat entree combination to share. Can't wait!
(5)Timothy F.
Dilla's continues to deliver delicious Ethiopian food at great prices. The veggies sampler was full of flavor and every dish was served nice and hot. The kitfo may not be for everyone, but it was delicious. For the best kitfo, order it rare or medium rare. The consistency is a little bit different from the kitfo at Fasika, but the flavor is incredible. The flavor of coriander and spiced butter is out of this world. I will continue to visit Dilla's when I'm in the mood for delicious Ethiopian.
(4)Kenneth H.
Worst experience I have had in a long time. There is a sign outside that says something like "student buffet 8 dishes". In the entrance is another sign that says something like "student buffet 4 dishes". By the time they have you sitting down, the "buffet" is two choices and even after the "student discount" I was paying nearly 10 dollars. Food tasted like leftovers not sufficiently reheated. This is one of two instances in my entire life I have not left a tip due to feeling the place was a sham. Do yourself a favor and visit the AfroDeli a few doors down or Fasika in St. Paul.
(1)Rachel F.
good veg options
(4)Jen Z.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've had in years.
(5)Michael H.
Terrific! Full of flavor, friendly service, and fairly priced.
(5)Richard Y.
Dilla's is the best Ethiopian food I've eaten so far in the Twin Cities. Everything on the vegetarian platter was good and I will definitely be back. A veggie platter with an extra order of Misir Wat was more than enough to feed three people and still have lots of leftovers.
(4)Roxy M.
Delish! wonderful food, place and people.
(5)James W.
Great authentic food. Great people at the restaurant
(5)Dee C.
The food is definitely five-star, but the service is VERY SLOW. I'm thinking it may be cultural dissonance. Americans tend to want to order and eat on their lunch hour, not a two hour lunch. I've even tried ordering to go and/or calling in the order to have it ready when I arrive. It's never ready and always "almost ready" (meaning another 15 to 20 minutes). They are usually very nice but they do appear to be nicer to the men. Again it may be a cultural thing because I've seen lots of waitresses be nicer to men (probably for better tips) so not sure. I've had waiters be more "flirty" when I'm with all females so it goes both ways.
(3)Charlie B.
Being a vegetarian there are plenty of great selections...great tasting food...everytime I am near the west bank this is my first choice...I love this restaurant...friendly service!!!
(5)Gutama H.
It's one of the best place you want to be if you are around Twin Cities. Their service,quality and best food East African food!! Please visit and im guaranteed you will enjoy the time you spent there. I have been there many times I never disappointed their service and quality of their food!!
(5)Jessica S.
Situated just steps away from the UMN West Bank Campus, yet not overrun by the student population, is this little Ethiopian joint that offers a Thurs / Sun buffet for a mere $10 per head. Yesterday, I finally got the chance to pig out during the Thurs buffet... Plenty of variety, with about 6 veggie-friendly dishes including my favorite - a spicy brown lentil stew. Other notable mentions included the warm red beets, the spiced collard greens, and some flash fried green beans and carrots. Thick rolls of deliciously fresh injera (spongy sourdough-flavored bread designed to be used in lieu of utensils) accompanied. Everything was so good and satisfactory in quality, though the pools of oil tipped me off that I might not be consuming diet-aligned food. Note: I'm hypersensitive to oily food and this was not anywhere near nasty enough to irritate my stomach. Dilla's has a far-away Sub-Saharan vibe to it, yet seems to be a local gathering place for expats. It's beautified by colorfully-patterned mesob baskets, bright and bold paintings of native folks captured performing the mundane (i.e. hair weaving), and a traditional bunna coffee set. We were seated in a cozy side room with ample natural lighting. In the main dining / buffet areas, a rather intimate space, was situated a bar. At the time (just prior to 3 p.m.), it was occupied by several men engaged in foreign yet clearly jovial conversation with, whom I can only assume was, the matronly owner of the joint. Warm and proud, the woman inquired how we enjoyed our meal. I assured her it was delicious and that we'd be returning back soon.
(5)Jordan M.
Have eaten here a number of times, and enjoyed everything. The food is delicious, and it is a really good price. Parking can kind of suck depending on the day you go there, but it hasn't been too much of a problem. I particularly like the eatery because my wife is a vegetarian, and being a meat-eater, it's hard to find a place we can both agree on. Dilla's has really good options for the both of us.
(5)Andy L.
Rica and I got delivery 25 minutes ago. We got a vegetarian sampler and Doro Tibs, which is a spicy chicken dish. We liked the vegetables a lot. The chicken had nice flavor, but was slightly dry in parts. We ate very fast and got happy.
(5)Diana M.
Yum! Checking "Eat Ethiopian Food" off our list on our trip to MN was important! Dillas did an awesome job. When you walk in the door you're not sure what to do... some folks at the bar sort of stood around and I wasn't sure if they were guests or employees. it's a small place and would be tough for a crowd of 6+ if you didn't plan on using the whole restaurant. You walk downstairs to the creepy bathroom, but all these are overcome by the deliciousness of the food. I was nervous about introducing two of our friends to ethiopian but Dilla's held their own. The waitress was very sweet and helped me pick out a platter that would be big enough. We basically ordered the vegetarian platter and the combination platter. I also tried the Ethiopian coffee for the heck of it - some extremely strong espresso in a tiny adorable coffee pot with some frothy cream. I had to add a heck of some sugar to it to match my taste but it was a cool little extra. All the dishes on the platter were great. I won't pretend to be able to identify them all but the lentils are delicious, they include the traditional salad and cheese too; the doro wot was good, and the red lentils = VERY spicy! There was also something like beets, I think, that I hadn't seen at other E places, and it was actually extremely good! The two platters was TOO much for 5 people and at about $12/person it wasn't too bad. We could easily have fed 6 or even 7 with the same food. I would go back if I'm ever in the area!
(4)Holley V.
There are a few good places in town to eat Ethiopian, but Dilla's in the best. I usually get the Awaze Tibs and tea. The inera bread that comes with is great! Sometimes, my husband orders the Kifto and we get an appetizer of sambusa to eat with the tasty sauce! Parking can be crazy, and I wish they had more spaces in the lot next door. The other thing is that sometimes there is only one or two servers for the whole restaurant. The foods so good that I temporarily become a patient person.
(5)Anthony S.
I've been coming to Dillas for 3-4 years now, I can't imagine a better tasting restaurant with kind and consistent service. All of my meals are satisfying, I walk away full, and with left overs! They have recently upgraded their decor with brand new tables and chairs! I highly recommend Dillas to anyone looking for a chill atmosphere and tasty Ethiopian cuisine.
(5)Tony J.
The people were friendly enough, but the service wasn't great. Most importantly of all, we did not enjoy our food. The roll that they served had the consistency and sponginess of a baby's arm... and not in a good way! Ate here once and Would definitely not dine here again...
(1)Dmitriy K.
Worst service ever. Took 30 min to get a bean dip appetizer, and then ordered the 5 combo meal which made me sick most of the night. Not good.
(1)Eva D.
Fresh, delicious and authentic food. We tried the beef sambusas and the vegetarian combo plate. Both were excellent! As others have noted, service can be slow so go when you are not in a big hurry.
(4)Howie K.
We'll go a long, long way out of our way to dine on Ethiopian. We flew all the way from Albuquerque to Minneapolis to chow down on these eats, and let me tell ya, it was every second of the flight. We also happened into a relative's wedding while we were in the Cities. Strange coincidence. Again, I state with emphatic determination, ABQ needs Ethiopian. Even the sort of average eats, like those we had at Dilla's, are such a unique change of culinary pace and so fun to eat. Dilla's doesn't offer any fluff, no flare, just home cooked recipes and (during our visit) really friendly service. The injera was very cold, which kinda flattened the warm toppings available from the buffet, but no matter. Our bellies were full, our toddler was coddled, good times. Hey Dilla's, I know of a place where the summers are hot and the winters are basically snow-free. Wanna set up shop in New Mexico?
(3)Elizabeth D.
Best Ethiopian in town. Blue Nile was my fav, but the flavors and quality are better here. My husband and I shared the veggie platter and both left very full. So tasty!!!
(5)Kalkidan A.
Best Ethiopian restaurant in the Cities! You won't regret it ... Please go and test the delicious variety of foods!
(5)Henok T.
I like this place - the service leaves more to be desired; as does the decor but the food delivers! I needed it as my first meal after moving to Minneapolis and I considered it fate since this place was the closest restaurant to my hotel :)
(4)Mohamed I.
Excellent food. My wife craves the zigni with boiled eggs. Food takes a lil time but it's so tasty. I've already came this place twice. I also tried their burger combo. Tasty fries and burgers . I would recommend this place to anyone .
(5)Ellen C.
Just wanted to quickly update the price of the combination has gone up to $13.
(5)Omnivore E.
Delicious, authentic and great service. The negative was that the meat variety was three kinds of meat in the same sauce. The veg assortment made up for it though. I was ready to be disappointed due to previous low flavor, low seasoning experiences at ethnic restaurants catering to MN natives. This place was a welcome surprise.
(4)Zakster C.
Yelp reviews did not disappoint. Authentic Ethiopian food in MN. Must try.
(5)Ahmed A.
The food was good but the customer service was terrible. You better not go there hungry because it will take them forever to bring your food out. They only have two super slow waitresses that takes care of taking orders, cleaning and cashing you our.
(2)Sam H.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious and authentic and the prices are reasonable. For years, I thought Fasika had the best Ethiopian food in town but now Dilla`s is my favorite. I highly recommend it!!!
(5)Tess G.
Hmm, went back here a few weeks ago because I had been bragging about to a friend who loves ethnic food and I was VERY disappointed. Usually the service is wonderful but this was the definitely not the case this time. We had to ask our server for water and menus (she seemed very confused of why we were asking for such items). We then had to again ask her if we could order and she again seemed very unsure of what to do next. We then asked to see a drinks menu and this took her about 10 minutes to bring us even though there were only a few other customers in the place. Once we received that menu, I had a question about a beer and she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. We finally got our appetizer (Fule) and it was pretty good, the bread has been fresher in past visits though. Once our main dishes came, the real fun began. Each dish came out with at least 5 minutes between each other (there were 3 of us). She gave the wrong dishes to my friend but insisted it was the one he ordered so he proceeded to eat it. After about 10 minutes had passed, another main entree came out and it was in fact the one he had actually ordered (at this point over half of the first dish to be brought out had been ate). This server seemed like a bat in the headlights when we confronted her. I could tell she did not speak nor understand English very well from the start but I am an open minded and global citizen that always gives one the benefit of the doubt. But at this point, the service was just so horrible that I beckoned for one of the servers I normally have (who I know speaks English) to come over to our table and attempt to sort out this whole mess. She immediately saw the problem and the chef/owner came over to apologize. The food was delicious as always but I could not get over the horrible service. In the end, we convinced them to charge half for my friend's mystery dish. I really did not want to write this review because I love small run, ethnic places but this server clearly needs more training or should find a new career. Bottomline is that the food is wonderful but the service leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)Amy H.
Fantastic experience and food. Great food and great service. They even accommodated a special request.
(5)Idrissa Y.
Dilla's is one of my favorite restaurant in the twin City. They have a wonderful staff, that always make you feel welcome. Also the food is so delicious. I always order a Lamb curry, but they all type of Ethiopian food, for vegetarian or for meat eater like myself. Go check that out, and you won't regret!!
(5)